Glasgow City Council’s Building Control team has, this afternoon, taken control of the site of a major fire at The Glasgow School of Art and Sauchiehall Street.
The site passed to the council team as the emergency response to the fire begins to draw to a close.
The existing safety cordon around the site will be significantly reduced – and a number of businesses and residents will be able to return to their property.
However, while the council works with partners to establish the condition of buildings involved in the fire, there remains a risk to public safety and a substantial exclusion zone will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, the council has established plans to base business advisors at Sauchiehall Street to help traders affected.
Alternatively, they can contact Business Glasgow at businesssupport@glasgow.gov.uk
A number of residents have already been provided with temporary accommodation. If others who had, up until now, made their own arrangements now need advice or assistance, they should contact the council’s homelessness service. Call 0800 838 502 out-of-hours or the North West team on 0141 276 6168 during office hours.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Our building control team has now assumed responsibility for the site of the Mackintosh Building and the other affected properties.
“The cordon that was around these properties will be reduced, which will help many of the businesses and residents that were evacuated in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“However, a substantial cordon will remain for the foreseeable future, as the condition of these buildings is assessed – and I understand that will be a significant worry to those still unable to get access.
“This is a dynamic and complex situation; but we will work with residents and businesses to give them as much clarity as we can, when we can.”
